Events around the world recently have brought the issue of racism to the forefront of our thinking and prayers. In our ministry with children and families we must welcome and affirm all and be careful not to demonstrate bias based on race or ethnicity (nor gender, sexuality, disability or anything else that is hurtful or causes unnecessary division). All people are made in God’s image. All people reflect God’s image somehow – isn’t that just beautiful? Here are some links to resources, books and organisations to help if you are exploring how to approach this issue with children.
Talking with children
Rachel Turner and our friends at Parenting for Faith have produced a great set of resources entitled How can we talk to our children and teens about injustice? These contain helpful bible stories to examine racism and discrimination, helpful ways to open up conversations and ways to pray.
Helpful for adults to stimulate thinking
Rev Dr Kate Coleman: Are you M.A.D. with the world?
Henry Zonio: Why we must start talking about race in our children’s ministries Henry also contributes a thoughtful and challenging chapter entitled Normalising white spirituality in children’s Sunday school curricula in an excellent book Bridging Theology and Practice in Children’s Spirituality, edited by Mimi Larson and Robert Keely. There is also a chapter by Karen F Williams, Colouring outside the lines: A conversation about racial diversity and the spiritual lives of children. Again, very thought provoking stuff! She says;
“Being in a setting devoid of racial diversity only gives children a partial vision of the kingdom of God” (p61).
My colleague Margaret Pritchard Houston in St Alban’s Diocese has got a great Pinterest page on this issue with lots of resources, pictures and ideas.
Storybook Bibles
One of the major ways churches can show discrimination is in the choice of storybook bibles there are available for children to use and look at. Examine the picture in the books – do they reveal God’s glorious diversity among his human creations, or are the people mostly white-looking? Offering books for children that offer more diverse imagery is just one way of normalising diversity and tackling racism.
Desmond Tutu: Children of God Storybook Bible
Shine On: A Story Bible has lots of curriculum resources, including some new intergenerational resources to explore justice.
Growing in God’s Love: A Story Bible
Other organisations
Show Racism the Red Card is a UK charity using education and sport to tackle racism. This video is very powerful. Anne O’Conner, leading consultant on early years, offers some thoughts about tackling racism in nursery settings helpful for churches running toddler groups.